UNO Tops NT Women To Set Up Rematch WednesdayNEW ORLEANS (3/01/08) ? The North Texas women's basketball team couldn't get over the hump at New Orleans, falling to the Privateers 54-52 on Saturday.

NEW ORLEANS (3/01/08) The North Texas women’s basketball team couldn’t get over the hump at New Orleans, falling to the Privateers 54-52 on Saturday.

The game came down to the final possessions, but New Orleans (13-16, 7-11) was able to keep North Texas at bay. Brittany Helm hit a runner with 55 seconds left to seal the win over the Mean Green (13-17, 8-10).

With the loss North Texas drops to the No. 8 seed and will get its chance at a rematch with the No. 9 Privateers. The Mean Green will host UNO in the Sun Belt Tournament’s opening round at the Super Pit at 5 p.m.

The Mean Green trailed all night until Erica Howard knotted the game at 40 apiece with a pair of free throws with just over six minutes remaining.

Howard led two Mean Green players in double-figures with 14 points. Jo Hall also poured in 12 points.

The Privateers pushed the tempo out of the gate and put the Mean Green in an early 10-0 hole. Tricia Lee stopped the bleeding with NT’s first points of the game, but 4:06 had already ticked off the first-period clock.

Brittney James helped the Mean Green claw back into the game with a dagger from deep. Her 25-foot 3-pointer with seven minutes left in the first brought North Texas to within a bucket at 18-16.

James finished the first half with nine points, but the Privateers stretched their lead to 25-20 at the break.

For tickets or information to Wednesday’s double-header at the Super Pit, call the Mean Green ticket office at (800) UNT-2366 or go to MeanGreenSports.com.